Könner Pendule @museum.de

F: We don't know how nervous the staff member at the municipal savings bank was in October 1995. But he was almost certainly a little excited. At the time, Sotheby's auction house in London was hosting a certain sale and it was his task to bid. Among the items in the catalogue was a pendule – a pendulum clock – from 1770. It had been made by Franz Anton Könner, master clockmaker to the prince-bishops of Bruchsal.

M2: Although the clock was in a sorry state, the bidding at the auction skyrocketed. In the end, the savings bank was poorer by 21,000 marks and the municipal museum had gained a treasure. The pendulum clock was extensively restored. It took the restorers 59 hours to complete the painting alone. Repairing the clockwork mechanism added another 19 hours.

F: The clock itself is almost a metre high. It consists of a three-part Neuchâtel wooden case, floral decoration and gilded punched brass appliqués.

M: The Bruchsal court watchmakers were always nominated by the prince-bishop's court chamber and then appointed by the ruling prince-bishop. Franz Anton Könner succeeded his father, Johann Könner, to the post. His duties as a court watchmaker are listed in the patent issued by the prince-bishop when Könner was appointed in 1785. They included "keeping all the timepieces in the local prince-bishop's residence and all the country palaces in working order." He was also responsible for winding the clocks and watches daily and cleaning them every two years. At times, there were 23 clocks in the rooms of Bruchsal Palace alone. This certainly kept Franz Anton Könner busy around th e clock.